Eugenio López Chacarra arrives at Pinehurst No.2 fulfilling the dream that any golfer has the moment they start playing this sacrosanct sport: to debut in a Major. The Madrid-born golfer will tee off tomorrow in a Major for the first time in his career. An unforgettable moment: “Since I was a child I have dreamed of this moment and tomorrow it will become a reality”.
Playing a Major is clearly one of the milestones that are always remembered with great affection, regardless of the subsequent result, playing is a reward in itself and also a recognition of many years of quiet work.
Chacarra is clear that the hell of Pinehurst should not ruin his party: “My main goal this week is to enjoy, I am already doing it, the complex is spectacular, I am here with my parents and I want to squeeze the experience until the last second”. It’s a very special week. Nobody has given anything to Eugenio, who got his ticket for the US Open through the most demanding preliminary round that was played. In fact, thanks to having played there, Sergio García can play this week in North Carolina as the first reserve to enter the tournament’s field.
On the sporting side, there is an anecdote that is curious in the Madrid-born golfer’s bag. The reality is that we have seen Chacarra struggling to find positive feelings with the driver this week. Eugenio broke the driver last week, a few minutes after, in that same match, Jon Rahm withdrew from the LIV in Houston. It was the second driver that broke in just a month. In fact, the first one had broken in the preliminary round that qualified him for this US Open.
At that moment, the search for the PING 410, the model from three or four years ago that Eugenio uses and with which he feels very comfortable, began. Searching and searching he ended up getting several copies through the Ebay platform, no less. So you are reading it right, the driver with which Eugenio will debut tomorrow he bought on the online platform. He is not the first nor will he be the last, but it is curious. He feels comfortable with that club model and wants to try to keep it as long as he can, so if it has to be found on Ebay, it is found on Ebay.
“The driver is a key piece in golf and on this course. I am trying to find feelings, the reality is that in the last year and a half it is a topic that I have been working a lot. With this new driver on Monday it was very difficult for me to find feelings and as the week has progressed I have been fine-tuning”, the Madrid-born golfer explained to Ten Golf.
Little by little and by testing, the reality is that he is starting to have better feelings. It won’t be for hours on the practice field. Both on Monday and Tuesday he has been seen training for a long time trying to find answers that seem to be getting closer: “This afternoon I am going to play another nine holes to try to confirm the good feelings I have had in the last few hours. Yesterday I was at 60%, I think that with today’s work I will continue to gain confidence”.
Today, less than 24 hours before the start, Eugenio has played a practice round alongside Phil Mickelson, a legend of this sport. Chacarra has wanted to squeeze the experience 100% and it has been very common to see them discussing around the green what kind of shots were more convenient at each moment. Also, in the times they were walking between shots we have seen them talk a lot: “It’s impressive how close Phil is and how eager he is to help. We flew together on Sunday and he promised to play a day together and I appreciate very much that he has done it”. Speaking of advice, Chacarra has had time to wish Jon Rahm a speedy recovery to which the Barrika player replied saying: “Enjoy the week and give it a couple of balls”. Well, there’s the recipe.
With how difficult the course is, Chacarra is fighting to be able to continue seeing the positive side of everything that happens. “It’s a very complicated course and with the corner flags it’s going to be very difficult, but as I said, whatever happens I want to try to enjoy the experience. It’s true that in my Wake Forest era I was able to play here three or four times and everything seems a bit more familiar to me, but the reality is that the preparation has nothing to do with it and it’s going to be very tough”.
The Spaniard did not want to set big goals this week beyond enjoying, but he acknowledges that “being able to play all four days would be a magnificent icing on the cake for the week. I hope I can bring out my best version, I think I am playing well and when I am at a high level I know I can fight with the best”, Chacarra asserts confidently. He has already proven it and in fact, at 24 years old, he already has two victories as a professional.
Tomorrow, from 18:41 peninsular time, Eugenio López Chacarra will fulfill the dream of that Madrid boy who set out to reach a Major.
